- Planning authority
- Herefordshire Council
- Postcodes
- HR1
- Noon sun, 21 March
- About 38°
- Shadow from a 5 m eaves line
- About 6.4 m
- Planning plan
- Local Plan
- County
- Herefordshire
How it plays out in Hereford
Garage blocks behind homes vary from a few lock-ups off a short drive to long courts serving whole streets, and a site in HR1 could be either. The size of the site, the width of the lane and how many neighbours back onto it decide what could fit, not the number of garages.
Owners just outside Hereford, in places like Ross-on-Wye, Leominster and Ledbury, face the same questions. We look at the lane, the rights over it and the distance to neighbouring windows first, then sketch options from a single home to a small group.
How we’d take it forward in Hereford
From here the pace is yours. A sale only proceeds once heads of terms are in writing and you’re happy with them; a build only proceeds once surveys, design and a written quote are in front of you. Garage tenancies are brought to an end under their own terms, on legal advice. Herefordshire Council then consults neighbours on the application and makes the decision.
Free site appraisal
We look at the site on maps, the title plan and the planning history, then talk through who uses it now. If it looks workable we visit. There’s no cost and no obligation.
Rights and title review
We map who has rights over the court and lane, which garages are let and on what terms, and whether any covenants, charges or strips of land you don’t own could block a scheme.
Site checks and layout
We look at the access lane, the buildings, likely asbestos and contamination, drains and neighbours’ windows, then sketch what could realistically fit, from one home to a small group, or nothing at all.
Planning, then sale or build
We prepare and submit the application and the council decides. If you sell, your solicitor handles the transfer. If you build, a written quote follows design and survey, then demolition and construction.
Worth checking early
- A narrow or unadopted lane can restrict the number of homes, or require sprinklers, a turning space or bin collection point.
- Asbestos, contamination and bat surveys add cost and time before demolition can start.
- Neighbours whose gardens back onto the court are consulted and may object; the council decides.
Your questions, answered for Hereford
Is the lane to my Hereford garages wide enough?
It depends on the lane, the number of homes and local highway standards. The council will look at width, visibility at the street and the effect on neighbours. Fire and bin access matter too. A narrow lane may limit the number of homes rather than ruling the site out.
Can I build houses on my garage block in Hereford?
Possibly, if the lane works for cars, bins and emergency access, neighbours’ privacy and light are protected, and rights over the site can be dealt with. Homes there need planning permission, which is Herefordshire Council’s decision. A free appraisal shows whether the site merits going further.
Do I need an asbestos survey for garages in Hereford?
Yes, before demolition. Health and Safety Executive guidance says a refurbishment and demolition survey must find asbestos before structural work begins. Older garage roofs are often asbestos cement sheeting. Specialists carry out the survey and removal, and we build both into the plan.
Will you buy my garages in Hereford with tenants in them?
Possibly. Any purchase is subject to survey, title and contract, with or without planning in place. Existing tenancies and licences must be brought to an end properly under their own terms, and when that happens forms part of the agreed deal. Get legal advice before any notice is served.
Other options in Hereford
- Planning permission for a garden plot
- Sell subject to planning
- Combine gardens with your neighbours
- Garden plot option agreement
- Large rear gardens
- Joint venture on your garden plot